Feline Health

Ask the Cat Doc: Can You Encourage a Cat to Cuddle and Be a Lap Cat?

Feline Health| 5 Comments

Ask-the-Cat-Doc-with-Dr.-Lynn-Bahr

Welcome to our regular “Ask the Cat Doc With Dr. Lynn Bahr” segment! Once a month, Dr. Bahr answers as many of your questions as she can, and you can leave new questions for her in a comment.

Dr. Bahr graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. Unlike most veterinarians, she did not grow up knowing that she would become a veterinarian. “It was a cat who got me interested in the practice and I am forever grateful to him,” said Dr. Bahr. Over the course of her veterinary career, Dr. Bahr found that the lifestyle of cats has changed dramatically. As the lifestyle of cats has changed, so did Dr. Bahr’s client education. In addition to finding medical solutions, she also encourages owners to enrich their home environments so that their cats can live long, happy, and healthy lives.Continue Reading

The Truth About Dry Cat Food

Feline Health, Feline Nutrition| 160 Comments

dry-cat-food

Last updated April 2021

Grocery and pet store shelves abound with a dizzying array of dry cat food. For decades, kibble has been the preferred choice for most cat owners. After all, the bags say it’s “complete and balanced,” it’s easy to feed, and most cats seem to like it. Unfortunately, dry cat food, even the high-priced premium and veterinary brands, is the equivalent of junk food for cats. Feeding dry food to cats is no different than feeding sugared cereals to kids.Continue Reading

Natural Remedies for Arthritic Cats

Feline Health| 4 Comments

cat-arthritis-natural-remedies

Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The cartilage within the joint is worn down, leading to inflammation, pain and decreased quality of life. As the condition progresses, the friction can wear down to the point where it damages the bones themselves. Osteoarthritis is often not diagnosed in cats because it is difficult to recognize even for the most dedicated cat parent. The signs can be subtle, and since cats are such masters at masking pain, it often remains untreated. As many as 3 in 10 cats suffer from this debilitating condition, but only 7% of cats with arthritis receive treatment.Continue Reading

5 Healthy Habits for Your Cat

Feline Health| 1 Comment

cat-healthy-food

This post is sponsored by Darwin’s Natural Pet Products and contains affiliate links*

We all want our cats to live long and happy lives. We know that healthy habits increase our vitality and help prevent serious illness, and the same is true for our cats. If you’re not already practicing these five healthy habits, now is a good time to start!Continue Reading

Why You Should Weigh Your Cat Once a Month

Feline Health| 15 Comments

cat-scale

This post contains affiliate links*

Weighing your cat on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways to monitor her health.

Gradual weight loss or gain is often not noticeable in cats until it has become quite dramatic. Consider that the average cat weighs 10 pounds. Weight loss of only 6% of a cat’s body weight is considered a clinical sign – that’s less than ten ounces. Depending on the size of your cat, visible changes to her weight may be too subtle to notice without actually weighing her.Continue Reading

Not One More Vet: Suicide Among Veterinarians

Feline Health| 6 Comments

not-one-more-vet

When you take your cat to your vet and see his or her smiling face (even if it’s just on a screen or behind a mask right now,) as he or she cares for your cat, the last thing you probably think about is that this kind and compassionate person is at a higher than normal risk of suicide. The sad reality is that suicide in the veterinary profession has been a growing concern for quite some time.Continue Reading